In the historic city of York, two dedicated volunteers are quietly transforming surplus food into vital nourishment for children facing food insecurity. Janet Leng, 75, and Marian Hodgson, 39, have become pivotal figures in the local fight against hunger, redirecting edible food that would otherwise be discarded to schools and food banks.
"Janet's a walking, talking, living saint. Genuinely, the work she does is phenomenal," said Gavin Kumar, principal of York High School. "I would imagine she's fed tens of thousands of students over the past few years."
The duo partners with the I Am Reusable food bank and several local schools, particularly those with high numbers of students eligible for free school meals. They regularly collect lightly damaged, near-expiration, or excess food from local businesses including shops, restaurants, and train operators.
Leng explained their process: "There's so much donated that there's often more than the food banks can cope with, and some of it goes to the schools." She stores much of the food in freezers in her garage before distribution.
Hodgson described their efficient system: "Working through the years with Janet and with certain schools, we know which school would like each thing. It's automatic—our brain says 'that needs to go there and that needs to go there.'"
At York High School, where approximately 40% of students qualify for free school meals, the donated food supports breakfast clubs and supplements regular school meals. Longer-lasting items like canned goods and cereals help stock the school's community cupboard, providing additional support for families struggling with rising living costs.
Leng's motivation stems from global concerns made local. She began her food rescue efforts in 2021 amid worries about potential grain shortages following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. "I told myself, 'You can't do anything [in Ukraine], but what you can do is do something in a small way to make the world a better place around you,'" she recalled.
Their work represents a grassroots response to both food waste and child poverty, demonstrating how community-driven initiatives can create meaningful change one delivery at a time.